HEALTH & FITNESS ARTICLES

Weight loss for women

With all of the emphasis on getting leaner this time of year, it is really important to be able to distinguish the myths from the truths.
Myth 1: Spot reducing: “I want to reduce the fat on my hips, thighs and tummy.” While reducing the fat in these areas is a worthwhile endeavor, expecting to reduce the fat ONLY in these areas is unrealistic. The body burns fat when the amount of calories burned exceeds the amount of calories ingested. And it burns fat all over the body. Genetics will decide what goes first and what takes longer. Sorry, dear, you don’t get to choose.
Myth 2: Muscle Toning: “I want to tone my muscles. I don’t want to get big and bulky.” First of all, “tone” refers to the tightness of a muscle, and it is there all the time, whether you are in shape or not. What you are really referring to is the look of the muscle when it becomes leaner and more developed. Men call this training for size, women call it toning, when it is actually the same thing. And forget about getting big and bulky. Unless you are genetically (and pharmaceutically) predisposed, chances are it ain’t gonna happen.
Myth 3: Skipping Meals. “If I skip a meal or two, my caloric intake will be less, so I have less to burn to lose weight.” Sounds good in theory, but in reality, it’s just not true. Skipping a meal sends your blood sugar level plummeting and instigates an insulin spike to counter it. Then as soon as you eat something, anything, the whole process goes in reverse. This roller-coaster ride wreaks havoc with your metabolism. As a result, you may actually get fatter from skipping meals. Hmmm….
Myth 4: Weight Loss Pills. Almost all of these are a complete waste of money. They do little more than raise your heart rate (not your metabolism), give you a rush and make you think you are burning fat. Sorry, nothing could be further from the truth.
Myth 5: Late-Night Infomercial Fitness Gadgets. Don’t even go here. This goes hand-in-hand with myth #1. There is no way to spot reduce. While these gadgets may get you off the couch and moving, which is good, so would a good walk around the block. Don’t waste your money or your time.

A common theme here is overall conditioning. Never try to spot-reduce and don’t fall for the gadgets and pills that the marketing gurus will try to convince you are the next new miracle. Workout hard and consistently and eat cleanly. You will reach your goals.